Pitch and Weather
The Holkar surface is traditionally batting-friendly with short square boundaries, but there’s a thin layer of morning moisture that could offer brief movement to the new-ball bowlers.
The weather is expected to be warm, with light humidity, and a clear evening is expected, with the temperatures hovering around 31 degrees Celsius, perfect for high scoring. Expect a 300+ total if the top order fires.
Toss
Australia Women won the toss and decided to bat first.
Lineups
Australia Women XI: Alyssa Healy (C & WK), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.
England Women XI: Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Amy Jones (WK), Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell, Sarah Glenn.
Match Report
After opting to bat first, Australia Women had a decent opening start of 79 runs, by the opening pair of skipper Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield in 13.5 overs. This partnership ended when Lauren Bell dismissed Litchfield on the fifth ball of the 14th over, at the individual score of 47 runs off 56 balls, with five fours. Following her dismissal, Healy and Ellyse Perry stitched another crucial 85-run partnership for the second wicket, before the former went back to the pavilion after playing a valiant knock of 82 runs off 74 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes. Later in the innings, Ellyse Perry also scored a brilliant knock of 68 runs off 70 balls, with six fours and a six, followed by Beth Mooney’s 51 (48), hitting five fours and a six. Furthermore, Annabel Sutherland (24) and Ashleigh Gardner (19) helped the Aussie Women post 307/6 in the allotted 50 overs. Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell scalped two wickets each for England Women, alongside a wicket picked by Charlie Dean.
While chasing the target, the England openers Tammy Beaumont and Emma Lamb added 57 runs for the first wicket in 10.2 overs. Megan Schutt broke this partnership, dismissing Lamb on the second ball of the 11th over. She scored 29 (37), with two fours. In a quick succession after 11 runs, Sophia Dunkley (11) was caught by Beth Mooney off Darcie Brown. Then came a much-needed and decisive partnership of 100 runs between Beaumont and skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt. Gardner gave the Aussies a big breakthrough by dismissing well-settled Beaumont in the 32nd over, at the individual score of 65 runs off 74 balls, with eight fours and a six. Following her departure, Sciver-Brunt also contributed with a brilliant knock of 87 (92), but it went in vain as England Women fell 23 runs short of the target, scoring 285/9 in the entire 50 overs. Megan Schutt, Ashleigh Gardner, and Darcie Brown scalped two wickets each for their side to restrict England before the target. With this win, Australia have also continued their winning run in the tournament, staying at the top of the points table with their fifth win in their sixth game.
Player of the Match
Australia skipper Alyssa Healy won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for her match-winning knock of 82 runs off 74 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes. Besides that, her partnerships with Litchfield and Perry also helped Australia Women post a 300+ total on the board in the first innings.
Scorecard